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Buddhism in the Classic Chinese Novel Journey to the West: Teaching Two Episodes
Roberta E. Adams
Notes on Buddhist Elements
The Heart Sutra
The historical Xuanzang obtained the Heart Sutra while returning from India, but Wu Cheng’en places this important text early on in the novel, after the band is complete and they have been traveling for only a month (Ch. 19). The Rook’s Nest Hermit, who cultivates his conduct on Pagoda Mountain, tells them the way will be long; but if they recite the Heart Sutra when they encounter evil influences, they will come to no harm. The narrator notes, “This sutra is the kernel of the cultivation of the truth, and it is the gateway to becoming a Buddha” (Jenner, 455). Tripitaka memorizes it immediately and recites it daily; when afraid during their journey, Monkey reminds him of the Sutra. For example, in Chapter 43, when the monk has become frightened after an episode with demons, Monkey says:
“You’ve forgotten the sentence, ‘There is no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch and no mental process.’ We men of religion should not look on beauty, hear music, smell sweet fragrances, or taste good flavours. We should not even notice whether we are hot or cold and our minds should be free from delusion. This is the way to repel the Six Bandits that attack eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind. Because of your mission to fetch the scriptures you are constantly worrying. You are afraid of evil monsters because you cling to your body. . . . If you will keep on inviting the Six Bandits in over and over again how can you ever expect to reach the Western Heaven and see the Buddha?” (Jenner, 972)
The text as it appears in Journey to the West is the translation into Chinese made by the historical Xuanzang. It is a text of central wisdom (prajnaparamita) in Mahayana Buddhism. C.T. Hsia notes that it becomes the monk’s “spiritual companion” on the journey, with its transcendent teaching that “form is emptiness and the very emptiness is form.”
The text of the Heart Sutra as it appears in Jenner’s translation is provided here. Neither Waley nor Kherdian include this important text, which should be provided to students. Note that the Sanskrit Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara becomes the female Bodhisattva Guanyin [Kuan-yin] in China.
Works cited:
Hsia, C.T. The Classic Chinese Novel: A Critical Introduction. New York: Columbia University Press, 1968.
Jenner, W. J. F., trans. Journey to the West. Wu Cheng’en. Intro. Shi Changyu. 4 vols. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2001 (1997-1986).